Automatic control valve for measuring apparatus



July 29, 1952 R, 5 WN 2,604,906

AUTOMATIC CONTROL VALVE FOR MEASURING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 14, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ROBERT 8. BROWN Wm aim ATTORNEY y 29, 1952 R. B. BROWN 2,604,906

AUTOMATIC CONTROL VALVE FOR MEASURING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 14, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I M ggggglfia gga s ul if Ill // 38 2 2Q .36 46 ATTORNEY R. B. BROWN July 29, 1952 AUTOMATIC CONTROL VALVE FOR MEASURING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 14, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ROBERT 5. BROWN ATTORNEY in place of it.

Patented July 29, 1952 UNITED; STATES PATENT,

AUTOMATIC CONTROL VALVE MEASUEIN G APPARATUS Robert B. Brown, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to T. R. Mantes, San Francisco, Calif.

. Application. December 14, 1948, Serial No. 65,251

* I 20 Claims.

This invention-relates to. an improved air control valve and to an. automatic measuring. apparatus employing this improved-valve.

An important accomplishment of, this. invention is that it makes. possible safe. use of. automatic. measuring, equipment with explosive materials. v Automatic measurement. of gasoline, for example,v is extremely dangerous when electrical control devices are. used, because a single spark may lead to the destruction. of an entire factory. The cost of making electrical controls explosion proof is far greater than the entire cost of a complete system employing this present invention. This invention; solves the problem of safe automatic measureme'nt of explosive materials since it does not use-electricity anywhere inthe system, but instead provides a-sensitive, accurate air, pressure for control for the, filling valves. In a divisional; application of this application, Serial Number 1%,872, filed January-1.6, 1.950, the automatic weighing and rilling, system. shown herein is claimed. I M 71 T flhevalve-oi this. invention is. also capable of use with nch-explosive materials, especially where air operated valves are used. For examp e, another problem solved by the. invention is the direct control i air-operated valves, an especially eflic-ientexamplefi which is disclosed in my copending application, Serial No; 65,252, filed December -;1l,;. l 943, and n-QW. abandoned. Prior air valve'controls have either lacked the requisite sensitivity orhave been unable to'handle a large enough air current. by themselves and have had tobesupplemented by relays and additionalvalves; The air. control. valve of this invention has bothgreat sensitivity and a capacity for handling large air currentswith no supplemental valves or relays. needed A further problemin the past has been that oi achieving an automatic, positive, and permanent cutoff. In air control valves heretofore available there. has been the danger that if the air current supplying the controlvalve were cut off, the feed-valve-vvoulolcontinuev to deliver materia1; ;or; it might .;start in u again accidental1y. This wasnot only wasteiul and; untidy, it was extremely dangerous when, e1 ;plosive material would, splash outover the top oi a full container.

air control valve which solves the above problems.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air control valve suitable. for use in the; automatic measurement of explosive and other: ma-

mains locked in the ft position. until purposel'y'reset.

Another objector the invention isxto provide a novel reset mechanism for an air control valve. Another object of the invention is to provide. a sensitive latch and latch-tripping mechanism for an air control valve.

Another object of the invention toprovide an improved latch mechanism inian aircontrol With this invention the feed valve is,c.ut off when the. desired duantity has been measured,

and the control valve. is locli d'so that the feed valve cannot openagain until theiilled container is removed from the-scale andan.emptyone put Q l e i he fit: is to providean in its latchedior' on position;

valve which will catch securely when being reset. Another object of the invention is'to provide a control valve which-in its ofi position will bleed or exhaust the air' from. the work outlet conduit and therebyrelieve the pressure on the controlled device' I Qther object's and-advantages of the invention will appear from the following description. In accordance with U. S. RevisedStatutes; section 4888, specific devicesare described in detail; but it is not intended that the invention be thereby limited except as required by the appended claims. I r

"In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation and'partlyin'sec- Q tion of an automatic weighing device embodying the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2-'is a;view in perspective, looking from above, of an air control valve embodying"; the

principles of the invention;

' Fig. 3 is' avie'win pers pective,look ih from Fig. 4 is a viewinsection taken"al" plane 4-4 n Fig;2;1w ith thev'alve b gfshown Fig. 5 is a view v similar; to mg, a. r with the valve in itsunlatched or'oli* position; j o f Fig. 6 is aview-in section taken alongtheline Fig. "Lisa view in section taken along line h mi .4; H

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 with the valve shown in its unlatched or off position.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a modified form of latching device.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a modified form of latch and latch release;

Fig. 11 isa view similar to Fig. 10 with the valve shown in its unlatchedor off position;

Fig. 12 is a rear view in elevation and partly in section of a control box for an automatic measuring device, comprising two air control valves and a reset mechanism therefor; the adjusting mechanism on the front of the box being shown in dotted lines; and

Fig. 13 is a view in section of the reset valve shown in Fig. 12.

This invention provides an air-operated control valve described here in connection with an automatic measuring system, which is claimed in divisional application, Serial No. 144,872, filed January 16, 1950. Among the air-controlled feed valves which can be used in this system, particularly sa'tisfactory'results are obtained with the feed valve shown in Fig. 1 and described and claimed in copending application, Serial No.

65,252,'filed December 14, 1948. There the dump valve is urged by a spring to a normally closed position, and is forced open by compressed air. The other valve has a maximum and a minimum open position. .The present invention isdireoted to a novel control valve for turning on and off the stream of compressed air to these valves.

The control valve includes a sliding spool valve in a passageway which is joined by an inlet conduit, an outlet work conduit, and an exhaust or bleed conduit. A latch mechanism normally holds the valve in open position, so that air may pass from the inlet conduit around the spool to the work conduit; while a piston on the spool valve blocks off the exhaust conduit. When the latch is tripped, a spring'forces the valve over into the closed position so the air inlet conduit is blocked off by the, piston, and the air in the work conduit is bled off through the exhaust conduit. The invention also includes means to reset the' valve to its latched position.

The particular forms of valve illustrated in the drawings will now be discussed. Figs. 2 through 8 show a preferred form of air control valve HI. .Its housing may be bossed, bored, and grooved to provide the conduits and to accommodate the moving parts. A valve passageway |2 extends from one end of the housing H to the other. At one end of the passageway |2 is a hollow fitting M, to which the reset ,air conduit l5 may be connected. (See Fig. 12.) In the other end of the passageway I2 is threaded an exhaust fitting having an opening l8 therethrough. (See Figs; 2 and 7.)

Adjacent the exhaustfitting H and on both sides of the passageway IZ-aretwo ports (see Figs. 6, 7 and 8) which lead to the outlet work conduit 2 I. The twin ports ,28 are preferable because they assure better balance and quicker action than a single large port, but a single port will also give satisfactory results. i 7

A single inlet-port22 joins the passageway |2 at a point further in from the fitting i! than the outlet ports 20. is a fitting 2 4 to which'may be Secured the outside air-inlet tube 25. (See Fig. 12.) A similar fitting 26 may be threaded into the outlet conduit 2| andto the fitting 26 the outside air outlet tube 21 may be secured. When the valve I0 is in its on position (Fig. 4), the tube 21 In theinlet conduit 23 carries a stream of compressed air to the controlled valve, which may be the feed valve 62 in Fig. 1.

Inside the passageway I2 is a slidable valve stem 30 comprising two spools 32 and 34 between three pistons 3|, 33 and 35. The spools 32 and 34 will pass air,-but no substantial amount of air can leak past the pistons 3|, 33 and 35. The end piston 3| faces the fitting Adjacent it is the spool 32 which passes air between the inlet port 22 and outlet ports 20 when the valve is in its on position (see Figs. 4 and '7). The other end of the spool is closed by the central piston 33. A second. latch-engaging spool 34 is adjacent the piston 33 and at the far end of the stem 30 is the reset piston 35. Preferably the shoulders 36 of the spools are sloped.

The valve 30 is urged toward the reset conduit M by a spring 38, which is compressed between the piston 3| and the exhaust fitting H. In this .ofi position (see Figs. 5 and '7) the piston 3| blocks off the inlet port 22 from the outlet ports 20. At the same time the outlet conduit 2| is bled off to the atmosphere through the opening IS in the exhaust fitting.

In its on position (shown in Fig. 4) the valve stem 39 is held by a latch in a position where the piston 3| blocks off the outlet ports 20 from the bleed opening l8, andair may pass freely from the inlet port 22 through the clearance around the spool 32 and into the outlet ports 20.

A preferred form of latch 40 (shown in Figs. 4 and 5) comprises a pivoted rigid latch member having a tapered depending foot 4|. The foot M i adapted to engage the shoulder 36 on the spool-34-side of the piston 33 and thereby hold the valve 3|] inopen position.

The housing H is bored horizontally at 42 to receive the latch pivot pin 43, and is grooved vertically at 44 so that the latch member 40 may swing vertically about the pin 43. The foot 4| fits in a vertical bore 45 which intersects the passageway |2 at an appropriate location.

The housing H is also bored vertically at 46 to accommodate a spring 41, which is'compressed between the upper surface of the latch 46 and an Allen screw 48.' The spring 41 urges the latch member 4|] down toward its latched position, but it is a weaker. spring than the spring 38. The latch 40 is latched either by a mechanical device towpush the piston over or by the air-reset mechanism described 'later on in this specification.

When'the reset mechanism is retracted or the reset air stream is turned off, the latch member would not hold were it not for a latch release member 50, whose leg 5| rests on a step 52in the latch 40, just above the foot 4|. 'The latch release member 5|] is an L-shaped member supported by a pivot pin 53for swinging movement in the groove 44.

The pivot pin '53 is located vertically above the edge of the step 52, so that the vertical component of the thrust from the spring 38 is resolved along the'rigid leg 5|. and the latch 40 cannot be released until an outside force lifts the long release finger 55. Then the member 5|lpivots around the pin 53, the leg 5| falls off the step 52, and the spring 38 snaps the latch 48.up as the valve 30 moves to its "off position.

Preferablyfthe latch edge below the step 52 is sloped at 58, so that'during resetting the leg 5| may slide up the slope 56 until itreaches its latching position on top of the step." This structure has advantages over a straight edge, because in its off position (Fig.

the inclined slope gives a smooth action whereas with a straight edge, the leg 51 is latched with a sudden jerk. If the member 50 does jerk suddenly, it may bounce out of position instead of remaining on the step. Since the reset operation is usually accomplished by a single blast of air, the valve might then return to its off position before the latch is secure.

For convenience, the operation of the valve I!) will be described, beginning with the valve The valve is first set, as described above, either mechanically or hydraulically by pressure introduced through the fitting I4 against the piston 35. The stem 30 is moved in the passageway I2 until the latch foot 4| drops down onto the spool 34 against the piston 33. At the same time the leg 5| rests on the step 52 and the latch 48 holds the stem SI! in its open position. Then air passes from the inlet conduit 23 around the spool 32 and into the outlet work conduit 2| Air continues to flow until the finger 551s lifted. Then the latch release leg '5I slides off the step 52, and the spring forces the latch 40' out of the notch 35. This releases the stem 35, which then moves to its 0d position. Then the inlet conduit 23 is blocked off by the piston 3I, and air bleeds off from the outlet conduit 2| through the ports 29 and the exhaust fitting II. The latch release leg 5I rests against the shoulder 55 of the latch 50, and the stem 30 cannot be reset until forcibly moved over against the resistance of the spring 38.

Fig. 9 shows a modified latch I55 which is similar to the latch 49, except that it has no integral foot II. A ball MI fits in the bore 55 below the latch I59. In latched position the ball I4! lies on the spool 35 and against the shoulder 55 of the piston 33. The latch I operates very much like the latch llL'and illustrates the fact that there are equivalents to several. parts of this control valve.

Figs. 10 and 11 show a modified form of latch release. The latch I55 is similar to the latch 45, except that instead of a step 52 and a slope 55, it has a long continuous slope I55. It is urged to a down (latching) position by a spring I i'l.

An intermediate latch I is pivoted on a pin I5I directly above the vertical bore- The end I53 of its leg I52 is preferably sloped, to slide on the slope I55. The latch I is urged downwardly by the compression force of a small spring I 57, and its horizontal arm I155 is preferably stepped at I55. The forward edge I 55 of the arm I54 is also sloped. Both the step I55 and edge I56 function like their counterparts in the device shown in Fig. 4.

The leg l-5'I of the release. finger member I6!) rests on the step I55 when in latched position. The pivot pin I52 of the member IE5 is vertically above the edge of the step I55, so that the upward thrust is r solved along the rigid leg I'd-I. The release finger I55 operates in a manner similar to the finger 5'5, but has the advantage that it is even more sensitive than'the single release mechanism. This type of latch and latch release thus has special suitability for exactly weighing very small quantities. Other things being equal, a smaller force is required to lift the finger I55 than is required to lift the finger55' in the device of Fig. 4. When the finger I55 is released, the vertical component of the thrust of the spring 38 through stem 30 is more than sufficient to lift the latch I55 against the two springs M1 and I51. i

Fig. 1 shows an automatic weighing mechanism employing two valves of the type described and numbered Illa and: I01) in Fig. 12. The container 60 to be filled rests on the weighing platform 6! directly beneath a dump valve 62. The conduit 58 leads from the fluid storage to the dump valve 52 through a preliminary two-position valve 59. A rod 53, lever 64 and rod 65 connect the platform 6| to the scale beam 65 at a point adjacent but on one side of the fulcrum 61.

On the opposite side of the fulcrum B7 is a counterweight 68 which may be adjusted along the beam for varying the weight of material to be dispensed into the container 50.

On the same side of the beam 56 as the rod 65 there is a stud 59 in contact with both leaves of a double-leaf flex I0. The flex I0 prevents the scale beam from swinging up suddenly when the scale comes into balance. From the time the scale beam contacts the flex until the weighing is completed, the strength of the fiex is a factor in determining its weight. There may also be another stud II on the end of the scale beam 55, which is secured to or engages a rod I2. The rod I2 is connected to a dashpot I3 which clamps the swing of the beam' after the critical balance weight has been reached. These are usual scale parts and individually constitute nopart of the present invention. 1

Secured to the same side of the beam 55 as the counterweight 68 is a control rod I5 which extends up into a control box I6. This box I5 (the back side of which is shown in more detail in Fig. 12) holds the two control valves Illa and I51). These valves are identical and are the same as the valve Iii which has been described above in detail. Both of theirhousings II are preferably bored horizontally at IT, in line with the axis of their fingers 55. A pin I5 passes through each bore TI into the box IE- and thus pivotally holds each housing I I for movement in a vertical plane.

A pair of guide arms project out from each valve housing I I- and are spaced to fit snugly on both sides of their respective cams S-I. When a cam BI is rotated on its shaft 82, its associated valve housing II is moved around its pivotal mounting I8- and the vertical elevation of the outer end of the finger 55 is changed. I

Each cam 8| may be adjusted from outside the box 15 by a device similar to that described in copending application, Serial No. 681,660, filed July 6, 1956, and now abandoned. It comprises a lever arm 83 (see Fig. l and the dotted lines in Fig. 12) rigidly secured to the cam shaft 82 and split at its outer end to provide a fork to embrace the curved, threaded rod 86.. The fork 84 also engages a wheelv 85 mounted on the threaded rod 86 so that movement of the wheel 85 moves the arm 83 and determines the rotational position of the cam shaft 82 and the cam M. A look nut 81 is threaded around the rod 85 and serves two functions: to hold the wheel 85 from accidental displacement-and to cooperate with the wheel duringsetting, togive a comparison of how much motion has been or is to be given the cam shaft.

When the wheel 85 moves along the rod 55, it turns the cam shaft 82 and the cam 6 I. As the cam 5i revolves it lifts or lowers its associated valve housing II, with the result that the finger 55 is moved up or down, changing the point at which it will be engaged when the scale is weigh- In weighing, end finger 55' is actuated by an adjustable collar 55, 9f secured. to the rod I5.

When the scale beam 66 is moved, the rod I5 is pushed upwardly. At a predetermined weight the lower collar 90 will engage the finger 55 of the lower valve Ia, tripping its latch 40 and cutting oil the air through its outlet tube 21. This moves the valve 59 to its dribble position. As the weighing continues, when the exact weight is reached, the collar BI engages the finger 55 on the upper valve Iflb and cuts off its outlet air supply through its outlet tube 21. This closes the dump valve 62.

There are thus several adjustments affecting the points at which the valves l0a and ID?) will close; the counterweight 68, the flex I0, the position of the adjustable collars 90 and 9| and the position of the cams 8I. In setting up to weigh out material, the first rough adjustment is made with the counterweight 68. The differences between cut off points in the two valves is determined by the flex I0 and by the collars 96 and 9I. The flex I0 is normally standardized, and the collars are adjusted for a given type of operation. Then the fine adjustment is obtained by the knurled wheel 85.

A great advantage is obtained by using the present invention with a visual indicator 95. The needle 96 is adapted to rest at the center of the dial face 91 when the scale is in perfect balance. If the collars 90 and 9| (especially the latter) have not been adjusted perfectly, the indicator 95 will indicate this error, for, if the scale is not in perfect balance, the needle 96 will be to one side or the other of the center mark. If the filled container 60 is underweight, the wheel 85 is moved to raise the finger 55 somewhat on the valve IIJb, so as to delay its closing of the dump valve 62. If the indicator shows that the container is overweight, the direction of the wheel 85 is reversed to correct for the next container. The weight can be made as exact as the indicator will read.

The valve 62 (which is completely described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 65,252, filed December 14, 1948) has two rates of flow and a closed position. Air pressure through the tube I00 (Fig. 12) moves both valves I01; and NZ) to their on position, which in turn opens the dump valve 62 and the dribble valve 59 to its maximum feed position. When the valve I0a is tripped by the collar 90, it closes off the air through the tube 98, bleeds off the pressure through the exhaust opening I8 and the valve 59 moves to its dribble or minimum open position. When the second valve I0b closes oil the air through the tube 99, the dump valve 62 is snapped completely shut, and will remain so until the valves I0a and Illb are reopened.

The valves Ifla and I02), as stated above, must be positively reset. In the device shown in Figs. 1 and 12, an air-reset mechanism is shown.

All of the air (both for resetting and for actuating the valves 59 and 62) may come from a single air supply conduit I00 connected to a suitable compressor (not shown). The air passes through a suitable moisture filter IUI and a lubricator I02 (see Fig. 1) into a manifold I03 inside the box 16. (See Fig. 12.) The manifold I03 has three outlet openings I05, I05 and I01. The flexible pipe a leads from the outlet I05 to the inlet fitting 24 of the lower control valve We; a flexible pipe 2512 leads from the outlet I06 to the inlet fitting 24 of the upper control valve I012. The third outlet I01 supplies air to a reset valve I I0 through a pipe II I.

The reset valve H0 is shown in section in Fig. 7

13. Its housing H2 is bored through to provide a central passageway 3 having a narrow central portion H4 and wider outer portions or chambers H5 and H 6. A hollow plug H1 is threaded into the end I I5.

An inlet conduit I20 leads to the narrow passageway portion H4, and two outlets I2I and I22 lead from the chamber II5 to the fiexible air reset tubes I5a and I51), respectively, of the valves Illa and IN).

A valve stem I25 is slidable along the passageway lI3. Secured to the front end of the stem I25 is a closure member I26, whose rear edge I21 normally rests against the seat I28 and closes off the passage II4 from the chamber H5. The front end I29 of the member I26 is adapted to close the opening I30 of the plug, and when seated serves to send all of the air pressure from the inlet I20 out through the outlets |2I and I22. When the member I26 is in between its two seating positions, however, the air bleeds out the opening I30, so that the valves Ifla and I017 cannot be reset unless the stem I25 is pushed all the way in. This prevents unintentional resetting when the cap I33 is touched accidentally.

The opposite end of the stem I25 extends out through packing I3I and a packing nut I32, which prevent leaks from the chamber I I6. The stem I25 extends outside the housing H2, and at its end a reset cap I33 is rigidly held by a set screw I34. A spring I35 between the cap I33 and housing II2 normally urges the cap I33 away from the housing and keeps the inner end I21 of the closure member I26 against its seat I20. For convenience, the cover of the box I6 is bored, and the cap I33 extends outside the box on its front side (see Fi l).

When the cap I33 is depressed, the stem I25 is moved in against the force of the spring I35. At first, some of the air leaks out through the opening I30, but when the end I28 of the closure member I26 rests against the opening I30, the reset lines I5a and I5b are filled with air, and the valves I01: and I0!) are simultaneously reset in the manner already described.

After the container 60 is filled, it is replaced with another empty container 60. Then the button I33 is pressed by the operator. The valves Ilia and IN) open, and they, in turn, open the dump valve 62 and the dribble valve 59. Feeding begins fast and is automatically cut down to a dribble. When the exact weight is reached, the valve 62 is automatically cut oil. Then the filled container 60 is again replaced with an empty container, and the cycle is repeated.

It will be evident from the above description and operation that the valve operates entirely on air pressure and requires no electrical mechanism. When the finger 55 is lifted the valve is positively tripped and must then be reset positively.

It will be noted that the large stream of air which can be transmitted directly through each valve I0 obviates the need for a supplemental valve. At the same time, the valve is very sensitive and responds quickly to the releasing of the latch. It bleeds off the air in the work outlet conduit 2I so that the dump valve 62 is closed immediately.

I claim: A

1. A fluid control valve having sensitive release characteristics comprising a housing; a longitudinal cylindrical bore therein; an inlet passage into and an outlet passage from said longitudinally in the other direction will uncover said ports and connect them by means of said reduced diameter portion; a perforate closure member securedin the end of said bore nearer said outlet port-to vent said outlet port when said piston-like member separates said inlet and outlet ports; a spring located between the end of said pistonand one of said closure members for moving said piston into its port sealing position; 'a shoulder on said piston; a latching means pivoted in said housing and engageable with said shoulder through an opening in said bore wall; and a locking member for said latching means, said locking member being pivotally mounted on said housing and having a depending portion to lock said latch and a generally horizontal extending release finger portion projecting outwardly from its pivot point, whereby when said piston is latched in its valve open position, a very light upward pressure on said release finger will allow said spring to force the latch off said shoulder and to move the piston to separate said ports to close the valve. 7

2. The device of claim 1 in which air under pressure may be introduced through a second perforate closure member in the other end of the housing bore from the aforesaid perforate closure member to move the piston against the spring to set the locking member to lock open the valve until the piSton is released by lifting on the release finger. I

3. The device of claim 1 in which a spring is positioned on top of said latching means, said sp havin less stre gth than th spri which moves said pistoninto its port sealing position,

4; h de ice o cla m l n wh ch t e l tchin means h s a s op ng s de alo g which th dependin p rtion o the l cking member slid s as the latch is engaged.

Th d ic of cla m :1 in wh ch the lo ki me er o p ises an. -shap d l er, pi ot d Where h two e s J i a d wi h on l formin t e dep d portion an the other le forming the release finger.

6. The device of claim 5 in which the above named L-shaped lever has its finger end engaged by the depending leg of a second L-shaped member, also pivoted in said housing.

7. An adjustment device for a mechanically actuated valve mechanism having a release finger projecting beyond the valve housing, said mechanism being actuated by a member which lifts said release finger, said adjustment device including in combination with the lifting mechanism a' control box housing; means to support the housing of said valve pivotally in said box housing at a point distantfrom its release finger; a :p ir of guide memberssecured to the .valve housing adjacent said releaswfin r; and m means fitting between and. in .contact with said guide members for swinging said valve housing about its pivot and thereby changing the actuation position of said release finger in respect to said lifting mechanism.

8. A control valve including in combination a valve housing; a mechanically actuated valve mechanism in said housing; a pivoted release finger for said mechanism projecting beyond said housing and adapted to release said mechanism for operation when said release finger is lifted; means for mounting said valve housing to swing bodily on a pivot generally parallel with the pivot for said release finger; and a cam-engaging face on said valve housing spaced away from said mounting means. r

9. A fluid control valve having sensitive release characteristics comprising a housing; a longitudinal cylindrical bore therein; an inlet passage into and an outlet passage from said housing, said inlet and said outlet passages being ported inside said housing on said bore in general proximity to each other; a close fitting piston-like member sliclable in said bore, saidmember having a relieved spool-like reduced iameter portion in its body, whereby the movement o aid pi n-l e member in one direction said bore will separate said inlet and said outlet ports with its full diameter portion and when shifted longitudinally in the other direction, will uncover said ports and connect them by means of said reduced diameter portion; means for normally holding said piston member yieldably in its portsealing position; a shoulder on said piston-like member; a latching means pivoted in said housing and engageable wi h said shoulder; and a locki g member for said latching means, said locking member being pivotally mounted on said housing and having a depending portion to lock said latch and a generally horizontal-ex end n r l se fin r, p rtion projecting outwardly from its pivot point, whereby when aid pis n is atc ed in i s va ve open position, a very light upward pressure on said release finger will allow said yieldable piston holding means to force the latch means off said shoulder and to move the piston to separate said ports t los th val e; mean r mou t g s id valve housing to swing bodily on a pivot generally parallel with the pivot for said release finger, and a cam engaging face on said valve housing spaced away from said mounting means.

10. A fluid control valve having sensitive release characteristics comprising a housing with a here into which are ported an inlet passage and an outlet passage in general proximity to each other a spool-shaped piston slidable in said bore to connect and to separate saidinlet and outlet ports, said piston having a shoulder; spring means urging saidpiston toward its port separating posiliiQH; a latch pivoted on said housing and en.-

gageable with said shoulder when said piston is its port-connecting position but adapted except when locked in this position to be pushed out of n a e by t e pres u e o said sprin mean ex ted th o gh sa ston; a i eek n m mb r pi y moun ed for f e mov ment on said h n-sin and havin a ge erally-vertic l dependin p rt on o ock said latch and piste. in t e p rt-connec i pos n nd a so having a release fin r porti n pr ecting g nera y herh zon ally ou ward y from its pivot point, whereby a v y li h upward pre sure on said relea e fin er wi d sen a e said dependin nortion from its looking position so that said spring means will force the latch oii said-shoulder and move the piston to its port-separating position.

11, The valve of claim L0. in which there is means for mountin said valve housin to swin bodily on a pivot generally parallel with the pivot for said release finger, and a cam engaging face r 11 on said valve housing spaced away from said mounting means.

. 11. The valve of claim in which there is der comprises a recessed portion of said piston and is formed on a slope, in which there is a verticai bore in said housing located over the position occupied by said recessed portion when said piston is in its port-connecting position; in which said latch includes a member in said vertical bore adapted to fit in said recessed portion and to engage said shoulder and a rigid member pivotally mounted on said housing and operatively connected with. said shoulder-engaging member; and in which said locking member is pivotally mounted substantially vertically above said vertical bore with its depending portion resting on said rigid member.

der-engaging member and the rigid member are made in one piece, the shoulder-engaging portion comprising a depending foot-portion on said rigid member with its shoulder-engaging end sloped in from the top to bottom.

14. The valve of claim 12 in which the shoulder engaging member of said latch comprises a ball positioned in said vertical bore in contact with said piston and said rigid member.

15. The valve of claim 12 in which the rigid member has a step on its upper edge where said locking member may rest adjacent the edge when in locking position, and a sloping portion between said step and the outer end of said rigid member where said locking member may slide between its locked and unlocked positions.

16. The valve of claim 12 in which the locking member comprises an L-shaped lever pivoted where the two legs join, one of said legs forming the depending portion and the other leg forming the horizontally-extending release finger.

17. The valve of claim 16 in which the abovenamed L-shaped lever has its finger end engaged by the depending leg of a second L-shaped member also pivoted in said housing.

18. A fluid control valve having sensitive release characteristics and adapted to be reset by the fluid it controls, comprising a housing with a bore into which are ported an inlet passage and an outlet passage in general proximity to each other; a fluid supply conduit leading to said inlet passage; a spool-shaped piston slidable in said bore to connect and to separate said inlet and outlet ports, said piston having a shoulder; spring means urging said piston toward its port separating position; a latch pivoted on said housing and engageable with said shoulder when said piston is in its port-connecting position but adapted except when locked in this position to be pushed out of engagement by the pressure of said spring means exerted through said piston; a generally vertical locking member pivotally mounted on said housing and having a depending portion to lock said latch and said piston in the port-connecting position and also having a release finger portion projecting generally horizontally outwardly from its pivot point, whereby a very light upward pressure on said release finger will disengage said depending portion from its locking position so that said spring means'will force the latch 011 said shoulder and move the piston to its port-separating position; a branch of said fluid supply conduit leading into said bore on the end toward which said piston is urged by said spring means; and a reset valve at the junction of said fluid supply conduit and said branch normally in position'to sendsaid iiuid only to said inlet passage-but operable when actuated to divert said fiuid into said branch to reset said piston. a Q

19. A latch mechanism'for a valve sensitive to quick release comprising a; piston member having a recess, means whereby said member is normally urged away from its open position; a latch member adapted to fit in said recess and to engage the shoulder at one end or said recess when said valve is in its open position; a rigid member pivotally supported and adapted to urge said latch member downwardly into locking position against said recess with less strength than the upward thrust of the force urging said piston member away from said open position; and a, locking member mounted pivotally at a locus substantially vertically above the forward edge of said rigid member and having a depending portion adapted to rest thereon when said latch member is in holding position, whereby the vertical thrust is directed along said depending portion, said locking member having a release finger extending out from its pivot point so that a small movement of said finger will move said depending portion off the forward edge of said rigid member and said piston can move to its closed position.

20. A fluid control valve having sensitive release characteristics comprising a housing with a bore into which are ported an inlet passage and an outlet passage in general proximity to each other; a piston slidable in said bore havin means to connect and to se arate said inlet and outlet ports, said piston having a shoulder; return means for urging said piston toward its port separating position; a latch pivoted on said housing and engageable with said shoulder when said piston is in its port connecting position but adapted except when locked in this position to be pushed out of engagement by the pressure of said return means exerted through said piston; and a locking member pivotally mounted for free movement on said housing and having a generally-vertical depending portion to lock said latch and piston in the port-connecting position and also having a release finger portion projecting generally horizontally outwardly from its pivot point, whereby a very light upward pressure on said release finger will disengage said depending portion from its locking position so that said return means will force the latch 011 said shoulder and move the piston to its port-separating position.

, ROBERT B. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED sTA'rEs PATENTS Browning Apr. 12, 1950 

